Slow, dream-like tragedy of human life

The human life is often a slow, dream-like tragedy. We are filled with regrets for the choices we have made, the opportunities we have missed. Sorrows haunt us, whether it be the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the failure to achieve our goals.

In the grand scheme of things, our individual lives seem insignificant. The universe is vast and eternal, and our existence is but a fleeting moment. Yet, despite our insignificance, we continue to strive, to dream, to love.

We may never understand the true meaning of our lives, but we can find beauty and meaning in the journey. We can learn from our mistakes, cherish our memories, and find hope in the future.

The slow, dream-like tragedy of human life is a story that is both sad and beautiful. It is a story that we all share, and it is a story that will continue to be told as long as there are humans on this earth.

I was extremely disappointed in this book.

The book seemed to be structured in a rather haphazard way. It felt as if one could have simply read the first chapter, along with the last two chapters, and skipped all the rest.

The ending was particularly unsatisfactory, leaving far too many unanswered questions. I found myself scratching my head, completely baffled as to why the author had included some of those chapters in the book.

To be honest, you won't gain any valuable knowledge or insights from this book. I, therefore, don't recommend it to the majority of readers.

You would really have to be a die-hard fan of this author to have any inclination to read this book. It was, unfortunately, a waste of my time, and I'm sorry to say that.

Perhaps the author had good intentions, but in my opinion, this book failed to deliver on its potential.

I hope that future works by this author will be more engaging and worthwhile.

A perfectly graduated story of a young man whose personal life finds itself in a crisis at the same time when the crisis of Chinese society is at its peak, in the spring of 1989. A story of disillusionment.

This is Cha Tin's fourth novel that I had the pleasure of reading, and I don't know if he just ran out of ideas (two of the novels I read belong to his first works, and this is the third), or if my understanding of Chinese specifics has also improved. However, the more I read his works, the more I like them.

The young Tien has clarity in his life. He is engaged to the daughter of a professor, to whom he has a relationship almost like that of an apprentice to a master. He is preparing for exams so that he can join his beloved in her studies in Beijing, and a beautiful future full of poetry, literature, and research awaits him. Then Professor Zhang is shot dead, and Tien helps take care of the dying old man in the hospital. From the snippets of memories that irresistibly burst out of his teacher, he constructs a picture of his past and the position of an apprentice in communist China. The narration flows slowly, and the upcoming twists that reveal the ugly truth about the motives of people who hold power, albeit insignificant, are all the more shocking. An excellent, albeit cruel, portrayal of life in China.

I get the distinct feeling that perhaps my tastes are dreadfully unrefined when it comes to this.

Either that, or the first 80% of the book is extremely slow-paced and seems somewhat irrelevant when compared to the last fifth of it.

I am well aware that, of course, it wasn't actually the case. We needed to properly understand and appreciate the situation that Jian was in order to truly grasp the ending.

However, I simply didn't enjoy spending time with Jian. Of course, he is supposed to be a bit of a loser, but I really couldn't find anything about him that interested me in the slightest. This made me not care much about what happened to him.

Indeed, even by the end, it wasn't really him that I cared about. That being said, the story still compelled me to keep reading, and it did paint an interesting portrait.

Overall, while my experience with the book was a bit mixed, there were definitely aspects that held my attention and made it worth the read.

I truly have a deep love for Ha Jin's writing style, and overall, I did enjoy this book. However, after having read the author's remarkable "Waiting," my anticipation was set at a high level for a story of the same caliber. Sadly, I discovered that this book fell short in that regard.

It is indeed interesting as it provides an insider's perspective on the events of 1989 in Beijing and on Chinese society in general. But I couldn't help but feel impatient with Professor Yang's rants in his post-stroke state. I repeatedly wished that Jian, the main character, would stop squandering so much of his time sitting by the professor's bedside.

I suppose I was hoping for some great revelation similar to what I found in "Waiting," but unfortunately, that was not the case. While I did enjoy the book to a certain extent, it simply isn't my favorite among Ha Jin's works.

It took a while to get into this.

The progress was slow going at first, but it wasn't really bad.

As I delved deeper, I started to see the potential and the value that this could bring.

Although it required some patience and perseverance, I was determined to keep going.

Each step forward felt like a small victory, and I was gradually getting more and more engaged.

The initial slowness was perhaps a necessary part of the process, allowing me to fully understand and appreciate what was ahead.

And now, as I look back, I realize that it was well worth the effort.

I'm excited to see where this will lead and what more I can discover along the way.

A backstory to Tienanmen Square in China provides a fascinating look into the psychology of a culture among academics.

At times, I found it rather difficult to follow, but I recently discovered that the author learned English while studying English Literature. His style, at times, seemed distractingly archaic to me.

Nevertheless, the story vividly showcases the State over the Individual philosophy that has prevailed in China, both then and now. It took an incredibly long time for the main character to summon the courage to stand up against a State he firmly believed was in the wrong. He yearned for a voice, a means to be heard.

The author also included details that were not visible on TV at that time. The accounts of side road massacres when students came forward to speak out were particularly disturbing.

The book makes it abundantly clear that voices of opposition are not tolerated. It offers yet another important insight into the minds of the culture in that region.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking piece that challenges our understanding of China's history and its cultural mindset.

This book is an extremely intense and politically-oriented one. It meticulously chronicles life in Communist China.

I would rate it a '4'. However, the beginning is extremely slow, almost painfully so. But if one perseveres and sticks with it, the book reads quite well.

The story centers around a graduate student who is ordered by the Communist Party to take care of his professor after the latter suffers a stroke. At the hospital, the elderly man becomes delusional, and the caregiver suddenly finds himself uncertain about the academic path he had previously hoped to pursue.

This entire episode is set against the backdrop of the uprising at Tiananmen Square. It is definitely an interesting read, with a lot to discuss and is excellent material for a book club.

Overall, despite its slow start, this book offers a unique perspective on life in Communist China and is well worth the read for those interested in the subject matter.

This is one of those books that I was pretty sure would be boring. However, somehow I got sucked in.

The story centers around a Chinese professor who suddenly falls ill. I believe he has a stroke. And the care that is provided to him by one of his students, who is soon to be his son-in-law, is described in detail.

The end of the book zeroes in on the uprisings at Tiananmen Square. This event causes the protagonist to seriously question his role in the world and whether he desires to remain an academic.

I am aware that there is a great deal of meaning encapsulated within this book. Nevertheless, I didn't invest as much thought into it as I potentially could have.

Perhaps upon a second reading, I will be able to uncover and appreciate the deeper layers of significance that are surely present within its pages.

I have a great passion for reading cross-cultural books, and this one truly appealed to me.

It was set during a crucial historical period in China, which was extremely captivating. However, I had a major issue with the author.

I'm not sure if he was attempting to make the narrator seem foolish by constantly using phrases like "in other words" as if the readers couldn't understand the previous thought.

This really grated on my nerves. As a result, while I would have given 5 stars for the historical and cultural setting, the one star I would give for the storyteller significantly detracted from the overall experience.

Nevertheless, I'm still glad I read the book as it provided an interesting perspective on how the Chinese people reacted to the government's control after Mao.

It's important to note that despite my frustration with the author's writing style, the content itself was valuable and offered insights into a complex and important era.

I hope that future works in this genre can maintain the engaging historical and cultural aspects while also improving the quality of the storytelling.

Overall, it was a bittersweet reading experience that left me with both appreciation and criticism.

This is a very interesting novel.

It is easy to read as the language is clear and straightforward.

However, there is a certain coldness in Ha Jim's writing style that I don't find particularly appealing.

Despite this, I still finished the book, which I wouldn't have done if I didn't like it to some extent.

Interestingly, English is his second language, and it is truly amazing how well he writes.

I can't help but think that perhaps his syntax has some influence from Chinese, but then again, how could I really tell?

Maybe it's just his unique way of expressing himself that gives his writing its distinct flavor.

Overall, this novel has its strengths and weaknesses, but it definitely makes for an engaging read.

I've read two books by Ha Jin, namely this one and "Waiting".

The plot of "Waiting" took an unexpected turn that I never anticipated. However, "Crazed" was even more astonishing.

Both books offer a strong dose of realism. The endings are not neatly wrapped up, and the story lines are such that things just occur randomly. You have no idea what will happen next.

For me, the central message of this book is that if you are either fortunate or unfortunate, you will discover the causes and effects of seemingly insignificant matters much later in life.

It makes you realize that sometimes, the smallest details can have a profound impact on our lives, and we may not even be aware of it until much later.

Ha Jin's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, making these books a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of human nature and the randomness of life.